Ever though about making a unique checker or chess board that is completely personalized to the intended recipient? Sometimes the simplest projects are the easiest to overlook, but with a bit of flair from a woodburning and carving tool these old style games icons come roaring back in style with a new look.

Blending Intarsia and Woodburning

Intarsia is the beautiful art of carefully cutting and blending different types of wood together to create a new and unique look that appears seamless. The goal is to cut the pieces to fit so that they will maintain their form without the aid of wood glue, however there are no rules against using wood glue to seat the bond permanently.

One of the most interesting things that intarsia brings to the mix is the vast assortment of wood types to choose from. Some woods maintain their shape and color much better than others so before beginning a project on intarsia spend a bit of time reviewing the available woods and their properties. A partial list can be found here.